The Dutch ace has made a massive splash at Parkhead since arriving in the summer from Groningen.

Van Dijk settled into the Scottish game immediately, taking the searing pace and frantic tempo of the matches in his composed stride.

The Champions League has also shown the classy defender in a hugely positive light, with his performances catching the eye of Holland coach Louis van Gaal and putting him in the frame for a place in the Dutch squad for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

Hoops manager Neil Lennon has been thrilled at the displays of his acquisition but van Dijk has revealed that Lustig deserves plenty of credit.

The Swedish international has been just as impressive as his colleague at home and on the continent and the manager wants him tied to a new long-term deal.

The pair have worked in tandem on the park but it’s bonding off it that van Dijk says has helped him enormously.

He said: “Mikael is very good, a complete defender. He’s tall and can head the ball, he’s quick and he crosses very well. For Celtic, he’s important.

“He could be one of leaders in the future, especially with the experience he has to help a young team. He has a strong mentality and I hope he stays here for as long as he wants.

“He scored a great goal against Hearts last weekend, although I think he was surprised by it.

“For me, the fourth we scored through Joe Ledley was the best team goal but Mikael put in the assist for that.

“Not only is he a good footballer, he’s a good guy. He’s helped me a lot and his wife has been a help to my girlfriend too. That’s also a good thing. I socialise with him, we talk a lot.”

But while Lustig has been denied his chance of making next summer’s Brazil jamboree, van Dijk’s hopes are still very much alive.

The Swede and his countrymen lost their play-off crunch against Portugal, with superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo inspiring his nation to an aggregate triumph.

Van Dijk, though, still has hope, and is taking motivation from Parkhead goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Similarly on the fringes of his senior international squad, the shotstopper forced his way into the England side for the recent friendly against Chile and into thoughts for Brazil.

Van Dijk is now hoping to do the same and said: “Fraser playing for England definitely inspires me.

“However, he is a top-class goalkeeper and he deserves it. I look at myself and want to do what he has done.

“The manager tells me I have that within me but I’ve got to show it. I’m a young player, so I still have time on my side but I want to play well in the Champions League and every week in the Scottish Premiership.

“That’s what I work for and I have enough motivation already to play well in the second half of the season. I don’t need any extra.

“Coming here has made me a better player but I knew joining was a good option. It was up to me to show that.”

Van Dijk’s next chance to impress comes tomorrow night. The Dutchman will be in the centre of defence as his team tackle under-fire Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

Stuart McCall’s team are in turmoil after their disastrous Scottish Cup exit to Albion Rovers, a result that has seen them slaughtered and placed under immense pressure.

The champions, on the other hand, go in with their confidence soaring.

Described by Lennon as the best performance of his 200 games in charge, Celtic demolished Hearts at Tynecastle with a sizzling seven-goal blitz. While much has been made of the fact Jambos boss Gary Locke was forced to field kids, there was no taking away from the ruthless power of the Hoops.

Van Dijk savoured being part of the rout and said: “It’s been a happy place since the win over Hearts but we have to switch on for the next game against Motherwell.

“Is it the best performance I’ve ever been a part of? Yes, I’d say so.

“The result and the team display was something I was happy to be a part of. I knew we could play that way as we have a lot of good international players who keep the ball. I knew it could be done.”

Of course, the downside of such a landslide outcome against the Jambos is the pointing of fingers by Scottish football’s detractors.

Celtic’s unchallenged domination and grip on the title at the moment is being pinpointed for ruining competition and results at Tynecastle do little for the argument.

Van Dijk, however, insists such talk is rubbish.

Having seen clubs such as Feyenoord skelped 10-0 by PSV Eindhoven in his homeland, he feels Scottish football gets a rough deal.

He said: “My friends got in touch after the result.

“Big scorelines do not mean that the football is bad. Not at all in my opinion.

“Everyone from outside of the country talks badly about the competition but you can look at the Dutch League and say it’s not that good either. The leagues are quite similar.”